The feast of the Epiphany is kept on 6th
January although it is now celebrated at Mass on the nearest Sunday. We
remember the adoration of Jesus by the wise men from the East who came bearing
gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. We too are on a journey of getting to
know Jesus and we carry with us the gifts we have been blessed with by God. The
feast of Epiphany also remembers the first occasion on which Gentiles
(non-Jews) were invited to see Jesus and today the Church invites all people in
every part of the world to know and serve Christ.
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| Wise men from the crib at Lancaster Cathedral |
CCC 528 The Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Saviour of the world. The great feast of Epiphany celebrates the adoration of Jesus by the wise men (magi) from the East, together with his baptism in the Jordan and the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee. In the magi, representatives of the neighbouring pagan religions, the Gospel sees the first-fruits of the nations, who welcome the good news of salvation through the Incarnation. The magi's coming to Jerusalem in order to pay homage to the king of the Jews shows that they seek in Israel, in the messianic light of the star of David, the one who will be king of the nations. Their coming means that pagans can discover Jesus and worship him as Son of God and Saviour of the world only by turning towards the Jews and receiving from them the messianic promise as contained in the Old Testament. The Epiphany shows that "the full number of the nations" now takes its "place in the family of the patriarchs", and acquires Israelitica dignitas (is made "worthy of the heritage of Israel").
